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Nigeria international Bright Osayi-Samuel has been found guilty by a Turkish court following his involvement in the violent scenes that erupted after a league match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe in March 2024, Footynaija reports.
The ruling, delivered by the Trabzon 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, concluded that the Super Eagles defender committed what was legally classified as ‘simple assault’ during the post-match disorder. The incident occurred at Papara Park after Fenerbahçe secured a dramatic 3-2 victory, a result that sparked a pitch invasion by home supporters.
Osayi-Samuel, along with former team-mates Jayden Oosterwolde and İrfan Can Eğribayat, was sanctioned as part of the verdict. Each player received a fine of 6,000 Turkish Lira, although Oosterwolde was penalised twice for separate incidents during the chaos.
Despite the guilty verdict, the court ruled that the announcement of the sentence would be suspended for five years. Under Turkish legal provisions, this means the punishment will not be enforced or recorded on their criminal records unless they commit another offence within that period.
The case centred on widely circulated footage showing Osayi-Samuel striking a masked pitch invader who had approached him and his team-mates. At the time, the defender insisted he acted in self-defence amid a volatile and dangerous situation, with reports suggesting some supporters carried objects onto the pitch.
The incident quickly became one of the most controversial moments of the Turkish football season, prompting both legal scrutiny and wider debate around player safety.
Although the legal process has now concluded, Osayi-Samuel has since moved on professionally. The 26-year-old left Fenerbahçe in 2025 and returned to England, where he currently plays for Birmingham City.
https://www.gazetegercek.com.tr/osayi-samuelin-cezasi-belli-oldu/217179?page=3
